Chelsea legend set to take Championship job

Former Chelsea manager and star player Frank Lampard is in advanced talks with Coventry City following the shock departure of Mark Robins at the start of November.

Lampard's most recent role was a brief caretaker spell in charge of Chelsea at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. But the ex-England international has experience in the Championship, where Coventry currently reside, after one year at the helm of Derby County in 2018/19.

The Rams reached the Championship play-off final under Lampard's stewardship, knocking Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United out in the semi-finals before losing to a Jack Grealish-inspired Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium.

Coventry owner Doug King confirmed that Lampard was under consideration shortly after Robins' surprise sacking. The Athletic revealed on Wednesday that the recruitment process had moved to "advanced talks". Lampard reportedly made "a strong initial impression" after an interview with King and may very shortly be offered a two-and-a-half year deal by the west midlands club.

The report also claims that Lampard's trusted assistant coaches Joe Edwards and Chris Jones would join him in the dugout at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Lampard has been openly eyeing a route back into management. Chelsea's all-time top scorer was briefly linked the vacant Roma position before Claudio Ranieri was appointed earlier this month.

Robins had his seven-and-a-half-year spell at Coventry abruptly ended after a 2-1 defeat to Derby. The Sky Blues have failed to win their subsequent three matches under the interim tenure of Rhys Carr, most recently mustering just three shots in a bleak 2-0 defeat to Burnley on Tuesday night.

If Lampard is appointed as expected, he will be inheriting a side currently sitting 17th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.

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